1997 Ford Ranger complaints

DUE TO THE RECENT RECALL OF FORD F-150 PICKUPS, I THOUGHT I WOULD PASS THIS ALONG. I OWN A 1997 FORD RANGER PICKUP. IT TOO HAD A FAILURE OF THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. ALTHOUGH IT LEAKED BRAKE FLUID ONTO MY DRIVEWAY AND SPRAYED FLUID THROUGHOUT THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT NO SERIOUS DAMAGE OCCURRED. IT COST ME THE PRICE OF A NEW SWITCH, BRAKE FLUID AND THE CLEANER FOR THE DRIVE AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I CAN SEE A POTENTIAL FOR BRAKE FAILURE AND FIRE IF LEFT UNDETECTED. *JB

I HAVE BEEN SMELLING GAS FROM BETWEEN THE CAB AND BED OF THE TRUCK, A 1997 FORD RANGER 2.3L. I PULLED THE BED OFF THE FRAME AND FOUND THE GAS FILLER NECK SPLIT AT BOTH THE TOP AND BOTTOM AT THE HOSE CLAMPS. THE SPLITS ARE SEVERE ENOUGH TO CAUSE GAS TO LEAK FROM THE FUEL TANK AS WELL AS FUMES. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *JB

SAFETY DEFECT: THE GASOLINE REFILL HOSE TO THE GAS TANK IS CRACKED AT BOTH ENDS. RECENTLY, I TOTALLY FILLED THE GAS TANK, AND GASOLINE SPILLED UNDER THE HOT VEHICLE AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER. I DISCOVERED THAT 3 CRACKS IN THE REFUEL HOSE CAUSED THE SPILL. MY TRUCK IS A 1997 FORD RANGER; HOWEVER, EVEN AFTER 8 YEARS THIS HOSE SHOULD NOT HAVE SUCH LARGE CRACKS. MY FORD RANGER IS TYPICAL, AND I WOULD SUSPECT THAT OTHERS HAVE THIS SAME DEFECT BUT PERHAPS IN A MORE MODERATE WAY. I VISUALLY INSPECTED THE CRACKS AT BOTH ENDS AND THEY ARE LOCATED AT THE CONNECTION POINT TO THE GAS TANK AND THE EXTERNAL GAS INPUT PORT. NOTE: THE GASOLINE SPILL STOPPED AFTER REFUELING AND AFTER THE GASOLINE INSIDE THE HOSE HAD SPILLED TO THE GROUND. I HAVE NOT YET REPLACED THE HOSE. *NM

DT: CALLER HAD AN ENGINE FIRE. CALLER'S SON WAS DRIVING AND SMELLED SMOKE, PULLED OVER AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE SON SAID VEHICLE MADE A POPPING SOUND AND HE COULD NOT GET AWAY FROM IT FAST ENOUGH BEFORE IT EXPLODED. THIS HAPPENED WITHOUT WARNING. FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND THERE WAS A REPORT FILED. DEALER SAID SHE DID NOT MAINTAIN THE VEHICLE BUT THE CALLER STATED SHE MAINTAINED THE VEHICLE. DEALER SAID THIS BECAUSE SHE DID NOT TAKE IT TO A FORD DEALER TO HAVE IT MAINTAINED. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO HELP. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DID NOT KNOW HOW THE FIRE STARTED.*AK

DT: CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING HIS VEHICLE, THE DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED BACKWARD. *TT

THE CONSUMER VEHICLE LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND ROLLED OVER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AND ROLLED OVER. AS A RESULT, THE ROOF CRUSHED IN AND BROKE THE DRIVER'S NECK. VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS. *AK

THE RELAY TO THE DOME LIGHT SHORTED OUT. IT'S HAPPENED TWICE. I KNOW 3 OTHER PEOPLE WHO ALSO DRIVE RANGERS , AND HAVE ALL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. ONE OF THEM HAS HAD THE SAME FAILURE TWICE. *AK

I THOUGHT I COULD SMELL GAS FOR ABOUT 6 WEEKS. LAST WEEK WHILE PUTTING GAS IN MY 1997 FORD RANGER PICK UP SOME ONE TOLD ME I WAS SPILLING GAS ON THE GROUND. THE GAS TANK FILLER HOSE WAS CRACKED AT THE TANK AND GAS WAS SPILLING OUT. IT WAS A ROTTEN HOSE. I STILL HAVE IT. *JB

THERE WAS A THREE VEHICLE ACCIDENT AT 50 MPH. THE CONSUMER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *SC *TC *JB

THIS TRUCK ACCERLERATES BY ITSELF, IT USED TO ONLY BE BETWEEN 2ND AND 3RD GEARS BUT NOW I CAN BE ON THE FREEWAY AND IN 4TH GEAR WHEN I CAN FEEL THE PEDAL GO DOWN TO THE FLOOR, I'M FORCED TO PUT IT IN NUETRAL UNTIL THE RPMS GO DOWN, TRYING TO GET IT INTO ANOTHER GEAR ONLY GRINDS BECAUSE ITS RUNNING TOO HIGH. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, IF IT HAPPENS AT THE WRONG TIME SOMEONE COULD GET HURT OR THE ENGINE WILL JUST BLOW UP! *AK

MY SEVENTEEN YEAR OLD SON WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2004 IN HIS 1997 FORD RANGER PICK-UP. HE WAS HEADED EAST ON I-240 WHEN HIS TRUCK SUDDENLY BEGAN TO SWERVE OUT OF CONTROL. HE SOMEHOW MANAGED TO BRING HIS VEHICLE TO A STOP SAFELY, WITHOUT A COLLISION. AFTER GETTING OUT TO INSPECT HIS VEHICLE HE FOUND THAT HIS RIGHT REAR TIRE WAS THE CAUSE. THE TIRE, A FIRESTONE 14" WITH PLENTY OF TREAD, HAD SEPARATED (IE. THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE). THE TIRE WAS STILL COMPLETELY FULL OF AIR EVEN AFTER THIS SEPARATION. THE SEPARATION OF THE TREAD CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK (APPROX. $1700.00). THERE WAS NO COLLISION AND THE TIRE DID NOT BLOW OUT, THE TREAD JUST PEELED OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON.

CONSUMER STATED WHEN STARTING VEHICLE IT IDLED AND WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SUDDENLY TOOK OFF WHILE STILL IDLING VERY HIGH. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER 3 TIMES, AND EACH TIME , THE VEHICLE WAS PUT ON THE DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE AND NOTHING WAS FOUND. CONSUMER WAS AFRAID OF AN ACCIDENT IF THIS CONTINUED. *AK

WHILE FUELING VEHICLE AT THE GAS STATION THE DRIVER NOTICED AT A FULL TANK THE GASOLINE LEAKED FROM THE FILLER NECK ONTO THE GROUND. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DEETERMINED THAT THE TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER SMELLED GASOLINE COMING FROM THE REAR. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO A BODY SHOP FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL FILLER HOSE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

MULTIPLE FAILURES OF FRONT ROTORS- STEPPED ON BRAKES- AND PULSES AND SHAKES, REMOVED TIRE TO CHECK ROTORS- ROTOR CRACKED- SAME SCENARIO EACH TIME- PASS SIDE 1ST TIME 30K (AUGUST 1999), 2ND TIME 48K(APRIL 2001) , 3RD TIME 58K, PADS FAILED- REPLACED NOV 2001, AND JAN 2002- REPLACED CALIPER AND PADS.- NOW HAS 84K AND SO FAR OK. 1ST TIME CHANGED BY FORD UNDER WARRANTY- 2ND TIME 18 MONTHS LATER- FORD DEALER CHARGED $600 + FOR NEW ROTORS- 3RD AND 4TH TIME I CHANGED - ALONG WITH CALIPER -EACH TIME DEALER ASKED TO CHECK TO MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER IS CAUSING THE ROTOR TO FAIL- PLEASE CORRECT- EACH TIME THEY SAY - JUST A BAD ROTOR----AND WHEN THE 48K FAILURE OCCURED- FORD CLAIMED TO NOT HAVE A RECORD OF THE REPAIR- THOUGH IT WAS DONE UNDER WARRANTY-FINALLY AFTER THE 3RD FAILURE- FIGURED IT MADE MORE SENSE TO FIX IT MYSELF- RATHER THAN PAY A DEALER $650, AND HAVE IT FAIL AGAIN IN 18000 MILES. *AK

I HAD AIR CONDITIONING INSTALLED AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE IN LATE 1997, THE AIR CONDITIONING WENT OUT LAST YEAR. SHOULDN'T IT LAST LONGER THAT 6 YEARS?*AK

DOME LIGHTS STAYS ON FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME. I HAD TO REMOVE THE BULBS, NOW I HAVE NO DOME LIGHT.*AK

I HAD JUST PUT MY TRUCK INTO DRIVE WHEN THE AIRBAG DEPLOID BY ITSELF WHICH CAUSED INJURY TO MY HAND

VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND DIAGNOSED AS AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. *AK

BRACKET HOLDING GAS PEDAL DETACHED FROM CAR SHEET METAL THAT IS BETWEEN ENGINE AND PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. UNIT HANGING BY ACCELERATOR CABLE. THERE LOOK TO BE 3 SPOT WELDS BTN BACKET AND SHEET METAL THAT BROKE. DRIVER WAS DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT THE TIME AND DECELERATED IN TRAFFIC.*AK

NORMAL DRIVING, FAILURE OF THE ELECTRONIC FOUR WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM, SYSTEM NOT YET REPLACED BECUASE OF LOW FUNDS. *AK

1) THE VEHICLE IS A 1997 FORD RANGER XLT EXTENDED CAB PICKUP. A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO MY WIFE COMPLAINED ABOUT SMELLING GASOLINE WHEN SHE FILLED THE VEHICLE WITH GASOLINE. ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION GASOLINE WAS OBSERVED DRIPPING FROM THE AREA UNDER THE FUEL TANK AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED WITH GASOLINE. THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE 2001-2002 TIME FRAME. *AK 2) IN LATE APRIL OF THIS YEAR 2004, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHT CAME ON, AND I HAD THE COMPUTER CODE CHECKED TO DETERMINE IF I COULD MAKE THE REPAIRS MYSELF. THE PROBLEM WAS THE FUEL FILTER, AND WHEN I REPLACED IT I NOTICED A GREAT DEAL OF DIRT AND DEBRIS COMING FROM THE INLET SIDE OF THE FILTER. THIS INDICATED TO ME THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS PROBABLY CONTAMINATED, AND I REMOVED THE TANK SATURDAY, MAY 15, TO CLEAN THE TANK. PRIOR TO REINSTALLING THE TANK, I EXAMINED THE GASOLINE FILLER TUBE, AND FOUND THREE CRACKS IN THE VAPOR RECOVERY TUBE THAT VENTS GASOLINE VAPORS TO THE FILLING STATION VAPOR RECOVERY SYSTEM. ONE OF THESE CRACKS WAS QUITE LARGE, AND SHOWED INDICATIONS OF GASOLINE LEAKING FROM THIS CRACK. NOT ONLY WAS THE CRACK THE SOURCE OF THE GASOLINE THAT LEAKED FROM THE SYSTEM, IT WAS ALSO THE ENTRY POINT FOR THE DEBRIS AND MOISTURE I FOUND IN THE TANK. IN ADDITION, THE GASOLINE THAT RAN FROM THE CRACK IN THE RECOVERY TUBE ACCUMULATED IN A PLASTIC SKID PLATE THAT IS LOCATED UNDER THE TANK. 3) I OF COURSE REPLACE THE TUBE ASSEMBLY, AT A COST OF $262.29. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY ABOUT THE PROBLE

ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH 1997 FORD RANGER. *PH *CB

DOME LIGHT STAYS ON, AND THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. THIS PROBLEM EXISTED AFTER THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED CORRECTLY THE FIRST TIME. *AK *MR

THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS AND DOME LIGHT BURNED OUT. THE DOOR AJAR WARNING CHIME SOUNDED FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES WHILE DRIVING, ALTHOUGH ALL THE DOORS WERE CLOSED. THE WIPERS CAME ON ALTHOUGH THEY WERE NOT TURNED ON. . *AK *NM

FULL INSTRUMENT PANEL AND INTERIOR LIGHT WILL NOT FUNCTION. NO LIGHTSACCORDING TO AUTO MECHANIC, POTENTIAL SEVERE INTERNAL WIRING ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *AK

A FEW THINGS HERE, ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND GOES OFF AT RANDOM. HAD IT CHECKED A FEW TIMES. NO PROBLEMS FOUND. DOME LIGHT/DOOR CHIME WILL NOT GO OFF WHEN DOOR IS SHUT AND/OR CAR IS TURNED ON. LEFT HAND BLINKER WENT NUTS A FEW TIME, BASICLY IT WAS BLINKING AT A VERY HIGH RATE OF SPEED. A FEW SECOND 'POWER LOSS' HAPPEND A FEW TIMES WHILE DRIVING, LOST POWER TO RAIDO, AND LIGHTS. THE REAR END BOUNCES WAY TOO MUCH WHEN I HIT A BUMP, CAN CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *AK

THE LOCATION AND CONNECTION OF THE FACTORY ALARM SYSTEM CAUSED THE RELAY SWITCH UNDER THE DASH TO OVERHEAT AND THE BATTERY DRAINED EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF.*JB ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON 1997 FORD RANGER IS MALFUNCTIONING. ABS SYSTEM LIGHTS ILLUMINATES WHEN THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IS ENGAGED. THE FUEL GAUGE IS INOPERATIVE, RELAYS UNDER THE DASHBOARD STARTED HEATING UP. CONSUMER CONCERED THAT AIR BAGS MAY FAIL IF VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT.*MR

AT 50,379 MILES, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE DELAMINATED (IE, THE ENTIRE TREAD CAME OFF THE TIRE IN ONE PIECE) WHILE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OR INJURIES. IT, AND THE OTHER THREE, ARE OE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P265/75R15 112S M+S TIRES WHICH WERE MOUNTED ON THE TRUCK WHEN PURCHASED NEW IN JULY 1997. *LA

THE GAS FILLER HOSE CRACKED WHICH CAUSED GASOLINE TO LEAK ONTO THE EXHAUST PIPE AND THE GROUND. *AK *TS *NLM

THE INTERIOR LIGHT IN MY TRUCK DOES NOT GO OUT WHEN THE DOOR IS SHUT AND THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. *LA

WHILE DRIVING FROM HOME TO WORK AT 40 MPH VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY DIED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT ALL FOUR VALVES CRACKED AND ENGINE BLOCK BROKE. *AK

1997 FORD RANGER TRUCK-SHORTLY AFTER LEAVING MY HOME, WITHIN 10 MINUTES, I NOTICED A CLICKING NOISE. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE CAR NEXT TO ME, I LOOKED AT MY GAUGES AND NOTICED NOTHING UNUSUAL. WITHIN APPROXIMATELY 1 MINUTE THE CAR LOST POWER. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED TO THE SHOULDER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. JUST BEFORE TURNING OFF THE IGNITION THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE SPIKED TO HOT. UPON EXAMINATION IT WAS DETERMINED THAT WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE ENGINE GOT HOT ENOUGH TO CRACK ALL FOUR VALVES IN THE ENGINE HEAD. BASICALLY A NEW ENGINE IN A CAR WITH 84,000 MILES ON IT. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS ENGINE IS RATED TO LAST 200,000 MILES. *LA

HOOD LATCH AND SAFETY LATCH FAILED, CAUSING HOOD TO OPEN WHILE DRIVING. HOOD IS NOW DENTED FROM HOW FAR IT WENT BACK.

I HAVE A 1997 FORD RANGER XLT SUPERCAB, 2.3L 4X2. I WAS PULLING OUT OF MY PARKING LOT AT WORK, AND 2 OF THE 3 BOLTS THAT HOLD THE STEERING COLUMN TO THE STEERING GEAR BOX BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING TO THE RIGHT. THE STEERING WAS VERY LOOSE, AND I COULD EVENTUALLY TURN TO THE RIGHT, WHEN THE GEAR BOX LODGED AGAINST THE FRAME. I'VE NOTICED 3 OTHER INCIDENTS IN SEARCHING THIS WEBSITE. I THINK THIS IS AN AGE ISSUE WITH RANGER. BOLTS SHOULDN'T JUST BREAK IN TWO. I DIDN'T TAKE THIS TO A DEALERSHIP, BUT MY FRIEND IS A MECHANIC AND DID THE WORK FOR ME. HOWEVER, I'M CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY, BECAUSE IF THIS HAPPENS ON A HIGHWAY, SERIOUS FATALITIES CAN OCCUR.*AK

FAULTY FUEL TANK VENT HOSE. WHEN FILLING UP THE GAS TANK AND THE PUMP KICKS OFF WHEN FULL, GAS POURS ONTO PAVEMENT BELOW. I PULLED THE PART OFF THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THE HOSE WAS CRACKED ALL THE WAY AROUND. THIS PART IS ALL ONE UNIT WITH THE FILL LINE AND IT COSTS A WHOPPING $247 TO BUY THE PART. I ASKED AUTOWAY FORD IN ST, PETERSBURG FLORIDA IF THEY WOULD PAY FOR IT BUT SINCE IT'S NOT UNDER RECALL THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT. WE PURCHASED ONE FROM GATOR FORD THAT SAME DAY. I NOTICED YOUR SITE SHOWS EIGHT OTHER COMPLAINTS CONCERNING THIS FAULTY HOSE. I WOULD VENTURE TO GUESS THERE ARE PLENTY MORE POTENTIAL FIRES LURKING UNDER OTHER FORD RANGERS. WE HAVE THE OLD PART ON HAND IF ANY BODY WANTS TO INSPECT IT. *AK

VEHICLE WAS IN A VERY SEVERE FRONT/SIDE COLLISION. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED, BUT NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT.*AK

97 FORD RANGER 4WD ~79K MILES, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FREOM WORK ON BACK ROAD DOING 30 MPH. SHE THOUGHT SHE RAN OVER SOMETHING AND THE TRUCK IMMEDIATELY DIED. NO ENGINE, POWER STEERING OR ANYTHING. *AK WHAT HAPPENED WAS THE CRAK SHAFT BROKE OFF AT THE ENGINE BLOCK. A WHOLE ENGINE REPLACEMENT WAS NEEDED. INSPECTING WHERE THE SHAFT BROKE OFF IT IS OBVIOUS TO ME, THE MECHANIC AND OTHERS THAT PART WAS DEFECTIVE IN THE MANUFACTURE PROCES. ABOUT 40% OF THE RING OF THE SHAFT LOOKS FINE (SOLID STEEL). THE REMAINDER OF THE RING IS ALL POUROUS. IT LOOKS LIKE A BAD FORGE PROCESS. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO DAMAGE OR INJURY OR WORSE, I DO BELIEVE THIS DEFECT PRESENTED A DANGEROUS SAFTEY ISSUE. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE HYWAY THE CONCEQUENCES COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. THE DEFECT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CAUGHT IN SOME QUALITY CONTROL PORCESS. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD ABOUT REIMBURSMENT FOR THE ENGINE REPLACEMENT BUT THEY WILL NOT CONSIDER IT. I HAVE THE PART THAT BROKE OFF AND CAN SUPPLY YOU WITH DIGITAL PHOTOS IF THAT WOULD HELP. THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REGISTER THIS COMPLAINT.

1997 FORD RANGER XLT EXTENDED CAB. WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKES, INSTEAD OF STOPPING AT THIS "T" HWY INTERSECTION, I RAN PAST IT, AND HIT A 12" DIAMETER TREE HEAD ON. ICE ON THE ROAD. I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT. NEITHER THE DRIVER'S SIDE NOR THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE INDENTATION ON THE FRONT BUMPER WAS OVER TWO FEET DEEP. MY HEAD AND RIGHT SIDE OF MY BODY SMASHED AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL, AND MY I BROKE MY LEFT COLLAR BONE, FRACTURED AND BRUISED SEVERAL RIBS ON MY RIGHT SIDE, BROKE MY RIGHT FOOT HEEL BONE, CUT MY NOSE, PLUS NUMEROUS OTHER MINOR CUTS, BRUISES AND ABRASIONS. AFTER ABOUT 45 SECONDS, A HUGE BALL OF FIRE ERUPTED FROM UNDER THE CRUMPLED HOOD. I FELT THE SUDDEN HEAT ON MY FACE, SINCE THE WINDSHIELD WAS GONE AND THERE WAS A HUGE GAP BETWEEN THE HOOD AND THE TRUCKS BODY. A LADY, AN ANGEL OF GOD REALLY, HELPED ME OUT OF THE TRUCK AND INTO THE BACK SEAT OF HER CAR. SHE DROVE ABOUT 100 YARDS TO WAIT FOR THE AMBULANCE TO ARRIVE. BEFORE WE CAME TO A STOP, I HEARD THE TWO FRONT TIRES OF MY TRUCK BLOW UP. ALL I COULD SEE WAS A BALL OF FIRE BURNING ABOUT 20 FEET HIGH. TWO THINGS SEEM TECHNICALLY WRONG: THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY, AND THE FUEL PUMP MUST HAVE KEPT PUMPING FUEL, FOR THE FIRE TO SPREAD SO RAPIDLY AND BURN THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK SO VERY COMPLETELY. THIS WOULD SEEM TO INDICATE THE POSSIBLE FAILURE OF THE AIR BAG CRASH SENSORS AND THE FUEL PUMP SAFETY CUTOFF SWITCH. MY TIRES WERE ONE MONTH OLD MICHELINS, SO THEY WEREN'T A FACTOR. THE TRUCK WAS IN EXCEL

MY '97 FORD RANGER STANDARD TRANSMISSION EXHIBITS HIGH IDLE CONDITIONS WHILE SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS. MY DEALER WAS NEVER ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE NEW. MY VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER BUMPER TO BUMPER AND EMISSIONS WARRANTY BUT I HAVE SAVED RECEIPTS OF THEIR ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM DURING TIME VEHICLE WAS WARRANTED BACK IN 1997. I RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS FOUND THE EXACT SAME HIGH IDLE PROBLEM WITH THEIR 1998 TO 2000 MODEL RANGERS AND THEY ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN TSB00-3-5. WHEN I CALLED MY DEALER TO INQUIRE AND ASK THEM TO INCLUDE MY '97 RANGER IN THE BULLETIN, THEY WERE EVASIVE AND WOULDN'T HELP. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT MY OPTIONS ARE. ANY HELP GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. P.S. FOR YOUR INFO, THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN CAN BE FOUND AT ( CASE SENSITIVE, PLEASE TYPE EXACTLY) V8SHO.COM/SHO/TSB00-3-5.HTML . *NLM

THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS CAME ON BY THEMSELVES AND THE WASHERS DID NOT WORK. ALSO THE DOME LIGHT STAYED ON AFTER THE DOOR WAS CLOSED FOR AT LEAST 30 MINUTES OR MORE. *JB THE WIPERS WOULD COME ON WHEN THE TURN SIGNALS WERE USED. THE DOME LIGHT WAS DISTRACTING AT NIGHT. SCC

A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE DASHBOARD.*JB

BOLTS WHICH HOLD THE STEERING SECTOR TO THE FRAME ALL BROKE OR SNAPPED. I WAS LUCKY THAT I WAS SITTING IN A PARKING LOT AND STARTED TO TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL, THERE WAS A SNAP AND I WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE WHEELS OF THE TRUCK A 97 FORD RANGER. I SENT AN EMAIL TO FOR ON JANUARY 28, 2003 ABOUT THIS ITEM AND THEY HAVE NOT RESPONDED, THE TRACKING ID IS KMM2029449C0KM CASE ID 688902. I AM NORMALLY OUT ON THE HIGHWAY TRAVELING AT OVER 65 MPH ON WEEKEND AND HAD THE BOLTS SNAPPED WHILE MOVING AT THIS SPEED I WOULD PROBABLY BE DEAD. IS THERE ANY RECORDS OF THIS PROBLEM REPORTED BY ANYONE THAT IS STILL ALIVE? THANKS FOR YOU HELP. JUST WANTED T O INFORM YOU OF THIS HAPPENING. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS HAPPENING ON A VEHICLE. AS FAR AS I CAN DETERMINE THIS VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. MOST OF THE 76,000 MILES HAS BEEN DRIVEN ON THE HIGHWAYS. THANKS AGAIN.

97 FORD RANGER ,BOTH HEAD GASKETS LETTING COOLANT SEEP OUT.74,000 MILES ON IT.

HEATER PLENUM (DOOR TO REGULATE HEAT TO CABIN) HAS BROKEN AND BURNED OUT CONTROL MOTOR CAUSING INTERIOR HEAT TO BE ALWAYS ON FULL HEAT

FILED COMPLAINT BEFORE, YOU ALL SAID IT WASN'T SAFTY RELATED.IT SURE IS WHEN FORD MAKES PARTS OUT OF THIN PLASTIC/OR PUT IN WRONG PLEUM CHAMBER.THE BLEND DOOR WON'T OPERATE AND BREAKS ON SO MANY EXPLORER/RANGER.YOU CAN'T EVEN DEFROST YOUR WINDOWS IN THE RAIN OR IN THE MORNING.DO THEY HAVE TO WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO GET HURT/KILLED FOR SOMEONE TO CARE.

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKE THE BRACKET SNAP CAUSING A VEHICLE ACCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING THE FUEL PUMP FAILED CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

NO SUMMARY. DT